All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Wild Holidays at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
SELECT DATES, NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 1, 2023: See the Safari Park in a whole new light! Take a holiday expedition of light and travel through places that glow and twinkle with holiday cheer. Holiday tunes set the mood, and seasonal food treats tempt you throughout your journey.
Holiday Light Festival Train Ride in Griffith Park
NOVEMBER 25, 2022 — JANUARY 6, 2023: Enjoy an evening train ride around the festively decorated, one-mile track in Griffith Park. The one-mile track at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad is transformed into a magical train ride of delightful and festive scenes with thousands of lights.
An American Christmas Story with Santa at the Reagan Library
NOVEMBER 11, 2022 - JANUARY 8, 2023: In this brand-new, never-before-seen 5,000 square foot Christmas exhibit, come and explore some of the fascinating holiday traditions and the unique expressions of the holidays from all 50 states and all of the American territories.Immerse yourself in the exhibit’s festive forest of decorated trees and learn just how many different ways Americans enjoy the holiday season. As a special treat, come take your photo with Santa as well!
Winter Fest OC at OC Fair and Event Center
SELECT DATES, NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 1: Winter Fest OC transforms the OC Fair and Event Center into a winter wonderland with oversized holiday decor, more than a million lights, and endless opportunities for memory-making. Activities include North Pole Journey, ice skating under the stars, 150-foot-long ice tubing slide, snowboard simulator, carnival thrills, food and drinks, holiday market, photo ops., and so much more!
Thanksgiving Turkey Bash at Lions Tigers & Bears
NOVEMBER 25-26: Get wild at Lions Tigers & Bears the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving — and watch big cats and bears enjoy their Thanksgiving feast.
Apple Butter Festival at Los Rios Rancho in Yucaipa
NOVEMBER 25-27: Enjoy apple butter making, live music, crafts for kids, corn maze, fresh-baked apple pies and more.
Christmas on the Farm at Underwood Family Farms
NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 24: Admission includes farm animals, holiday photo ops, tractor-drawn wagon rides, slides, pick-your-own fields (pickings additional fee), letters for Santa, animal shows (weekends only), reindeer (Dec 10-11 & 17-18), and visits with Santa (weekends through Dec 18).
Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas
NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 30: Enjoy the signs of an immersive walking trail to see larger than life holiday displays, thousands of lights, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Elves, countless candy canes and all of your favorite holiday cheer! Open NYE!
Lighting of the Bay – Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 1: Stroll the bay and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays. The serene, waveless bay will transform each evening into a vibrant winter wonderland featuring more than fifty lighted Christmas trees and holiday decorations.
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags
NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 1: The park is transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of colorful lights, live entertainment, sleigh rides, and visits with Santa.
Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside
NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 6: : The Festival of Lights is one of the nation's largest holiday light collections, voted "Best Public Lights Display" by USA Today.
Cool Yule Celebrations at Pacific City in Huntington Beach
NOVEMBER 25, DECEMBER 6, 17, 20 & 22 Take photos with Santa on the Ocean Deck and selfies in front of a retro-themed backdrop. Throughout the event, enjoy holiday-themed kids crafts, face painting, hot cocoa station, performances, and children's book author, Kim Ann, will hold a book reading and sign copies of her books.
A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa
NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 24: Join all your favorite Dickens characters—Tiny Tim and the Cratchits, the Fezziwigs, the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet-to-come, and of course, everyone’s favorite curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge.
“Let It Snow” with the Snow Queen & Princess at Bella Terra
NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 18: The Snow Queen and Princess will be performing and making it snow on the Green with their friends every Friday and Saturday. Special guest appearances include Grinch & Cindy Loo Hoo, Jack Skellington & Sally, Buddy the Elf & Jovie, Spiderman, and Black Panther.
LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. Live
NOVEMBER 26 - JANUARY 8: The LA Kings Holiday Ice, the city’s largest and most popular outdoor ice rink, is returning to L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles just in time for the holiday season.
Family-Friendly Magic Show with Naathan Phan in Santa Ana
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27: Naathan is a regular performer at the World Famous Magic Castle and is a multi-talented award-winning entertainer who has headlined stages across the globe, appearing in movies and TV shows. Magic is just the start, he sings, tells jokes, and has in his repertoire a long list of vocal impersonations.
Gingerbread Spice & Everything Nice at Nixon Library
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28: Kick-off the holidays with this festive, family-friendly celebration that pays tribute to the Nixons’ gingerbread themed traditions at the White House complete with a Christmas tree lighting, photos with a life-size gingerbread man, a Christmas Concert, and Santa Claus!
Illuminate Silverlakes in Norco
NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 30: Stroll through the Christmas Holiday Marketplace, journey through the Illumination Trail, visit oversized presents and toys in Toyland, explore the Electric Forest, take a photo in the sleigh at Santa's Reindeer Grove, and meet Santa himself.
Casa Lumina Holiday Walk – Casa Romantica in San Clemente
DECEMBER 1-22: A fun family-friendly experience for all, each night of the Casa Lumina Holiday Walk will include an illuminated walk through Casa Romantica, live entertainment from local artists, crafts including Letters to Santa, and a hot cocoa bar.
Santa’s Speedway Christmas Lights Experience in Irwindale
DECEMBER 1-31: Walk around to see massive light displays including the 11-story Christmas tree, towering ornaments, stroll through reindeer stables, and meet Santa.
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella Presented by Musical Theatre West
SELECTED DATES DECEMBER 2-18: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the new Broadway adaptation of the iconic musical. This family-friendly show is for all all ages and includes the most beloved songs.
The District’s Wonderfest of Lights in Tustin
DECEMBER 2 - JANUARY 1: Bring the family to The District’s 1st Annual Nightly Light Show featuring an array of colorful lights that dance to your favorite holiday music. Showtimes every 30 minutes from 5pm-9pm nightly.
First Fridays Night Market in Huntington Beach
OCTOBER 7 - FEBRUARY 3: It's a farmer's market meets street fair. Enjoy family games, over 75 vendors, axe throwing, food trucks, live music, sweet treats, and more. Free.
Winter in the Grove in Garden Grove
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3: Get ready for 50 tons of snow, snow slides, holiday craft boutique, fun food, photo ops, free crafts, live entertainment, and free inflatable attractions.
A Civil War Christmas in Wilmington
DECEMBER 3: Visit Drum Barracks and help kick off the holiday season. This is an indoor/outdoor event with crafts, museum tours and special displays on the grounds.
Holiday on Main Street in Yorba Linda
DECEMBER 2: Gather on Main Street to celebrate the holidays! Enjoy kids crafts, local talent show and entertainment, artisan shopping, pictures with Santa, a holiday drinks lounge, live music and more! Free to attend, open to the public.
Nutcracker for Kids at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3: Enjoy a condensed version of The Nutcracker created just for kids. This annual favorite finishes with a jolly visit from Santa Claus himself!
Yuletide Cinemaland at Heritage Square Museum
SELECT DATES, DECEMBER 3-23: Enjoy Victorian Holiday Home Tours, Santa Claus, Snow Dancing, Sing-Alongs, Holiday Light Extravaganza, Market Vendors, Food Trucks and a great line-up of family friendly holiday movies.
Holiday Tree Lighting in Lake Forest
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3: Free rides, entertainment, arts and crafts, vendors selling food, and more. Event begins at 4pm, tree lighting at sunset.
Princess Tea Party & Fashion Show in Santa Ana
DECEMBER 3-4, 2022 Enjoy raspberry tea or pink lemonade and cookies. Visit with princesses from your favorite stories and come dressed in your best. Each little princess or prince will... View Article
Newport Beach Holiday Lights Cruise
DECEMBER 2-31: Experience Newport Harbor in full holiday décor aboard one of our decorated vessels on a 75 minute holiday lights cruise. View multi million dollar estates and vessels all decked out with thousands of lights.
Victorian Christmas at The Banning Museum in Wilmington
DECEMBER 3: Enjoy walk-through tours of the mansion, horse-drawn trolley rides, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas crafts, cookies and cider, blacksmith demonstration, carolers, and more.
City of Los Alamitos Winter Wonderland
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3: Free snow play, musical entertainment, snow sledding, Santa's Village, tree lighting, inflatables, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, sensory-calming area, and vendors. This event had over 7,000 event goers last year.
Santa’s Village by the Sea in San Clemente
DECEMBER 3: A night of music, food, hot chocolate, popcorn, games, and snow to San Clemente.
Long Beach Trolley Waterfront Tour of Lights
DECEMBER 4-26: Board a classic cable-car trolley for a waterfront tour that will showcase the best light displays around. The tour includes the famous floating Christmas trees of Alamitos Bay, and beautiful Naples Island.
KUSC presents Classical California Kids Discovery Day at the Bowers
DECEMBER 4: Kids and their families will experience the joys of live classical music and a wide array of hands-on musical activities. They’ll visit an instrument petting zoo, try out the mic at the “Be a Classical DJ” booth, make musical puppets, and even explore how a violin is made.
Westerly School of Long Beach Community Tour
DECEMBER 6, JANUARY 12 & 28, FEBRUARY 16: Community Tour Days are opportunities for visitors to tour the Westerly campus and experience learning studios during the school day. The visits also include a brief presentation on Westerly's history, curriculum, and culture.
Wonderful Winter of Oz at Laguna Playhouse
SELECT DATES DECEMBER 8-30: The classic American tale gets a holiday makeover as Dorothy is spirited away by a blizzard on Christmas Eve and finds herself in a strange and wondrous land full of witches, munchkins and more! With beloved holiday tunes and a talented cast, discover the magic of panto today!
Star of Night at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8: Experience a stunning musical force of hundreds of musicians, including the remarkable Youth Choirs, the elegant Grand Chorus, and the superb Symphony Orchestra
Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures in Los Angeles
DECEMBER 8-11: Get swept up in Aladdin's princely parade, join the adventures of Anna and Elsa, play at a larger-than-life carnival with the Toy Story gang, set off on a safari with Simba, and explore the London skyline with Mary Poppins.
Santa Ana Winter Village
DECEMBER 8 - JANUARY 8: Enjoy a world-class outdoor ice-skating rink and live entertainment, shopping, local food trucks and more. Ride a festive trackless train, read a story with Mrs. Claus, or simply enjoy a warm holiday treat under the magical lights of this holiday wonderland.
Holiday Open House at Rancho Los Alamitos
DECEMBER 8 and 9: Take a tour of the Ranch House decked for a 1920s Christmas party and enjoy music and light refreshments in the barnyard.
Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden
DECEMBER 8 - JANUARY 15: Astra Lumina is an immersive night walk experience that uses light, scenography, original soundscape and projection to spark emotion and plunge visitors into an imaginative world.
Drive-In Movies at the Mall – The Nightmare Before Christmas
DECEMBER 9: Gather your family, load the car with blankets and join us for a Holiday themed drive-in movie experience at the Lakewood Center Mall north parking lot, near the El Torito restaurant. Free goody bags will be given to each car.
Lil’ Chef December Events
DECEMBER 6, 16 and 30: Lil Chefs will get in the holiday spirit with a Gingerbread House Decorating with Pizza Workshop, Cookie Exchange Baking Workshop and a fun New Years Eve Party. Sign up earlly!
Annual Boat Parade of Lights – Dana Point Harbor
DECEMBER 9-11: The harbor's much-anticipated Boat Parade of Lights returns with a "Surfin' USA" theme. Plus, enjoy lighting installations, holiday-themed photo ops, visits with Santa, and more.
Candlelight Walk at Heritage Hill Historical Park
DECEMBER 9-11: Enjoy an evening stroll through the decorated grounds as well as live musical performances, holiday crafts for kids and a visit with Santa Claus!
The Magic of Christmas starring The Young Americans in La Mirada
DECEMBER 9-18: The Young Americans star in this spectacular Christmas show. This year's show highlights favorite Christmas traditions, including Diwali, Hanukkah, Lunar New Year, and more.
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
DECEMBER 9-23: This year, Nancy is especially excited about decorating the Christmas tree. She bought a brand-new sparkly tree topper with her own money and has been waiting for Christmas to come. But when things don't turn out the way Nancy planned, will Christmas still be splendiferous?
Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo
DECEMBER 9 - JANUARY 1: This annual holiday event will treat guests through a wonderland of twinkling lights, live entertainment, festive music, and views of wildlife. Don't miss Aurora, an immersive presentation with 3D projection mapping, music, and lights.
Disclaimer: The Kidsguide team does their best to keep event details accurate at the time of posting, but information can change without notice! Be sure to double-check with the event organizer before heading out. Kidsguide is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or changes on our calendar—we’re just here to help you find the fun!
